Machine arrangement

Abstract

A machine arrangement comprising a crankshaft which is supported by at least one roller bearing including bearing rings and roller elements between the bearing rings, wherein the roller bearing is connected with a device for delivering of a lubricant to the area of rolling contact between the bearing rings and the roller elements. To improve the supply of lubricant to the roller bearing and to supply the right amount of lubricant in dependence of the temperature of the roller bearing, the device for delivering of the lubricant comprises a lubricant reservoir and a flow path from the lubricant reservoir to the area of rolling contact, wherein a valve element is arranged in the flow path for controlling at least one of a flow of lubricant and a pressure of lubricant in dependence of the temperature of at least one of the roller bearing and the valve element.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A machine arrangement comprising a crankshaft which is supported by at least one roller bearing with bearing rings and roller elements between the bearing rings,
 wherein the roller bearing is connected with a device for delivering a lubricant to an area of rolling contact between the bearing rings and the roller elements, 
 a lubricant reservoir integral with the device for delivering of the lubricant; 
 a flow path from the lubricant reservoir to the area of rolling contact integral with the device for delivering of the lubricant, and 
 a valve element arranged in the flow path wherein the valve element is adapted for controlling at least one of a flow of lubricant and a pressure of lubricant in dependence of a temperature of at least one of the roller bearing and the valve element, the valve element comprising a valve housing defining an opening to a first bore therein such that the opening is located at an upstream end of the first bore, the flow path traversing the valve housing through the opening and the first bore, 
 a filter disposed in the flow path upstream of and in contact with the valve housing so as to cover the opening therein, wherein the filter substantially prevents any non-lubricant material from entering the opening of the valve housing, 
 the valve element further comprising a flow restriction element which is biased by a spring element, the spring element biasing the flow restriction element proximate to a downstream end of the first bore, wherein a spring force of the spring element, which is exerted onto the flow restriction element, is dependent on the temperature of the at least one of the roller bearing and the valve element such that the at least one of the flow of lubricant and the pressure of lubricant is varied upon changes of the temperature without reliance on any sensor data. 
 
     
     
       2. The machine arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve element is designed to increase the at least one of the flow of the lubricant and the pressure of the lubricant with rising temperature of the at least one of the roller bearing and the valve element. 
     
     
       3. The machine arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow restriction element is a ball which cooperates with a seat wherein the seat is machined into the valve housing. 
     
     
       4. The machine arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein the seat has a conical surface. 
     
     
       5. The machine arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring element consists of a material which has a coefficient of thermal expansion which is different from the coefficient of thermal expansion of surrounding parts of the valve element. 
     
     
       6. A machine arrangement comprising a crankshaft which is supported by at least one roller bearing with bearing rings and roller elements between the bearing rings,
 wherein the roller bearing is connected with a device for delivering a lubricant to an area of rolling contact between the bearing rings and the roller elements, 
 a lubricant reservoir integral with the device for delivering of the lubricant; 
 a flow path from the lubricant reservoir to the area of rolling contact integral with the device for delivering of the lubricant, and 
 a valve element arranged in the flow path wherein the valve element is adapted for controlling at least one of a flow of lubricant and a pressure of lubricant in dependence of a temperature of at least one of the roller bearing and the valve element, the valve element further comprising a flow restriction element which is biased by a spring element, wherein a spring force of the spring element, which is exerted onto the flow restriction element, is dependent on the temperature of at least one of the roller bearing and the valve element, wherein the flow restriction element is a ball which cooperates with a seat wherein the seat is machined into a valve housing, 
 wherein the spring element is designed as a sleeve with a hollow-cylindrical geometry, and 
 wherein the ball is arranged at one axial end of the spring element. 
 
     
     
       7. The machine arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant is oil. 
     
     
       8. The machine arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein the lubricant reservoir is a main oil gallery of the machine arrangement. 
     
     
       9. The machine arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the machine arrangement is a combustion engine.